Information storing device



Oct. 5, 1965 D, MCGAF'FEY 3,209,477

INFORMATION STORING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

FIG. 7 Domaw Ms GAFFEY ATTORNEYS 1965 D. MCGAFFEY 3,209,477

INFORMATION STORING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 28 Na2 xxxxx xxx xxxx x x xx xxxx xx xxx. 5 xx xxx xxy xx xx 7 kn WV m wii lFIG. 8.

INVENTOR. DONA LO Ms GAFFEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,209,477INFORMATION STORING DEVICE Donald McGaifey, 233 Daines St, Birmingham,Mich. Filed Jan. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 168,962 Claims. (Cl. 4086) Thisinvention relates to information storing devices and particularly such adevice that can be carried readily in the pocket or purse.

It is an object of this invention to provide an information storingdevice wherein a substantial quantity of information can be incorporatedin a small space; which can be readily carried in the pocket or purse;which is relatively inexpensive; and which incorporates a minimum numberof parts.

Basically, the invention comprises a hollow tubular casing which has atleast a portion thereof made of transparent material and a pair of rodspositioned in the casing with the ends of a flexible sheet or web ofpaper or the like containing information wound around the rods in such amanner that two contiguous rolls are provided with the portion of theweb connecting the rolls visible through the side of the casing. Byrotating one rod in one direction, the web is unwound from the other rodonto the one rod. Similarly, by rotating the other rod in the oppositedirection, the sheet is unwound from the first rod and Wound on theother rod. Friction of the web material on the interior of the casingretains the rolls in any adjusted wound position. The sum of thediameters of the rolls when the web is wound equally on the rods ispreferably substantially equal to the greatest internal dimension of thecasing.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an information storing device embodyingthe invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an end view of an element of the device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the flexible Web materialbearing the information wound substantially entirely on one of the rods.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary part sectional view on an enlarged scale of thedevice shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an end view of another element of the device shown in FIGS. 1to 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of information storingdevice.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary part sectional view on an enlarged scale of thedevice shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end view of a portion of the device shown in FIGS. 8 and9.

FIG. 11 is an end view of the device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 showingsubstantially all of the web material wound on one of the rods.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner ofattachment of the web material to the rods.

FIG. 13 is an end view of a further modified form of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the information storing device embodying theinvention designated 10 comprises a tubular casing 11 of flexibletransparent plastic material, such as cellulose acetate butyrate, whichis substantially elliptical in cross section. A pair of rigid plasticsubstantially elliptical end members 12, 13 are positioned in the endsof the casing 11 and secured thereto as by a suitable adhesive. Member13 includes slots 14 and member 12 includes an opening 15. Slots 14 andopening 15 extend along the major axis of the elliptical cross sectionof the casing 11 and have a generally uniform width 3,209,477 PatentedOct. 5, 1965 X (FIG. 7). A pair of cylindrical plastic rods 16, 17extend through opening 15 into the casing and into slots 14. Thediameter of the rods 16, 17 is substantially equal to the width X of theslots 14. Rods 16, 17 may be solid or tubular.

A flexible web W of paper, or the like, bearing the information that isto be stored is fastened at its ends to the rods 16, 17 as by tape 18(FIG. 5). The web W is wound around one rod in one rod in one directionand the other rod in the opposite direction. For example, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the Web is wound around rod 16 in a counterclockwisedirection to form a roll R and around rod 17 in a clockwise direction toform a roll R Rolls R and R are contiguous and the portion P of the webbetween the rolls R1 and R is taut and generally flat and can be viewedthrough the side of the transparent casing 11. By rotating the rod 16 ina clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, the web is unwound from therod 17 and wound on the rod 16. Similarly, by rotating the rod 17 in acounterclockwise direction the web is unwound from the rod 16 and woundon the rod 17. The slots 14 guide the rods 16, 17 along the major axisof the cross section of the casing as the rolls are wound and unwound. rThe transverse dimension D of the interior of the casing 10 issubstantially equal to the sum of the diameters of the rolls when onehalf the web is Wound on each rod. Thus, in FIG. 4, the dimension D issubstantially equal to the sum of the diameters of the rolls R R In FIG.5 wherein substantially all of the web material is wound on the rod 17,rods 16, 17 have moved along the axis of casing 11.

The radius of the portions 20 of the casing, that is, the portions thatcontact with the rolls of web material, is preferably equal to theradius of the web material when the rolls R R are of equal radius. Thus,the radius of the portions 20 is preferably equal to the radius of therolls R R However, the use of a flexible material, such as celluloseacetate butyrate, to form the casing 11 permits the casing 11 toaccommodate itself somewhat to the increasing radius of the web materialas it is wound entirely on one rod so that the radius of the portions 20can be less than the radius of the rolls R R formed when all the webmaterial is wound on one rod. The friction between the Web W on the rodsand the interior of the casing 11 insures that the material will notunwind inadvertently.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, an end closure 19 isprovided over the ring 13 either integrally or adhered thereto by asuitable adhesive. In

7 addition, since this form is particularly adapted for very smalldevices on the order of five inches in length and /2 inch in thedimension D and the rods 16, 17'are of very small diameter, enlargedcylinders 21, 22 are provided on the ends of the rods in order tofacilitate the gripping of the rods.

The entire device can be readily operated when desired and takes up aminimum amount of room. For example, in a device having the dimensionsdesignated, a strip or web of material of a length of 3.5 feet can beincorporated containing approximately 2,400 words in a single-spacedpica type.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 11,

the tubular casing 25 is made of a similar transparent flexible plasticmaterial as the casing 11 in the previous form of the invention. Casing25 has a more rectangular than elliptical configuration includingstraight sides 25a forming the long sides thereof and curved sides 25bforming the short sides thereof. Sides 25b have a substantially uniformradius of curvature.

One end of the casing 25 is closed by an imperforate end cap 26 having aperipheral flange 27 that engages the interior of the casing and theother end of the casing is provided with an end cap 28 having a flangethat is telescoped over the outside of the casing. Cap 29 is formed withan elongated opening 30 therein that extends along the major axis of theoval or non-circular cross section of the casing and has a substantiallyuniform width X. A pair of tubular rods-31, 32 having a diametersubstantially equal to the width of the opening extends through the slotand a web W is wound on the rods in the manner of the previous form ofthe invention. As shown in FIG. 12, the end of the Web W can be fastenedto the rods 31 by means of a tape 33 or adhesive or in any othersuitable manner. Either end cap may be integral, or one or both mayengage the interior of the casing or telescope over the outside of thecasing.

In this form of the invention, the web W is wound from one rod onto theother in the manner of the previous form of invention, the rods beingguided by the opening 30 as they move transversely because of theunwinding and winding action.

As in the previous form of the invention, if a thin, flexible materialis used to form the casing 25, the easing may flex laterally outwardlyslightly to accommodate the condition where substantially all the webmaterial is wound on one rod, as shown in FIG. 11.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 13, the casing 25' may bemade of a rigid material, such as glass, and includes an integralportion 36 extending longitudinally thereof and forming an integralmagnifier for viewing the Web. The magnifier can be a separate piecemade of a suitable material and conforming to the external shape of theside of the casing against which it is placed.

It can thus be seen that there has been described an information storingdevice which can be readily operated, when desired, and takes up aminimum amount of room. For example, in a device having a casing, whichis 5 /2 inches long with cross sectional dimensions of 0.785 inch and0.470 inch and a thickness of 0.031 inch, and rods having a diameter of/1 inch, a length of onion skin paper of 43 inches can be readilycontained in the device. Substantially the entire length of the web ofonion skin paper can be provided with printed or typed information whichis readily available by rotating the rods. The information bearing webmay be made of plastic or other material and its capacity for printed ortyped information will vary generally in inverse proportion to thethickness of the web.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided an information storingdevice that utilizes very little space; which can be readily carried inthe pocket; which is relatively inexpensive; and which incorporates aminimum number of parts.

The term elliptical as used herein is intended to cover oval, ellipticaland generally rectangular configurations having curved or straightsides.

I claim:

1. An information storing device comprising a tubular casing having agenerally elliptical cross sectional configuration and a viewing portionthrough which the interior can be viewed, a first end cap adjacent oneend of said casing and defining at least one substantially straightgroove extending along the major axis of said casing, a second end capadjacent the other end of said casing and having a substantiallystraight opening therethrough parallel to said groove in saidfirst-mentioned end cap, and a pair of rods extending through saidopening and into said groove, the width of said opening and said groovebeing substantially equal to the diameter of said rods, a flexibleinformation-bearing sheet wound in one direction on one of said rods andthe other direction on the other of said r-ods within said casing toform two contiguous rolls so that the portion of said web between saidrods is visible through said viewing portion of said casing, the maximumcross sectional dimension of said casing being substantially equal tothe sum of the diameters of the portions of the web wound on said rodswhen the portions are substantially equal so that rotation of one rod inone direction causes the web to be wound from the other rod onto saidone rod and rotation of the other rod in the opposite direction causesthe web to be unwound from said one rod onto said other rod, said rodsbeing movable along the major axis of the cross-section of said casingas the web is wound and unwound and guided by said straight groove andstraight opening during said movement.

2. An information storing device comprising a tubular casing having agenerally elliptical configuration and a viewing portion through whichthe interior can be viewed, an end cap closing one end of said casing,21 second end cap adjacent the other end of said casing and having asubstantially straight opening therethrough parallel to the major axisof the cross section of said casing, and a pair of rods extendingthrough said opening, the width of said opening being substantiallyequal to the diameter of said rods, a flexible information-bearing webwound in one direction on one of said rods and the other direction onthe other of said rods so that the portion of said Web between said rodsis visible through said viewing portion of said casing, the maximumcross sectional dimension of said casing being substantially equal tothe sum of the diameters of the port-ions of the web wound on said rodswhen the portions are substantially equal so that rotation of one rod inone direction causes the web to be wound from the other rod onto saidone rod and rotation of the other rod in the opposite direction causesthe web to be unwound from said one rod onto said other rod, said rodsbeing movable along the major axis of the cross-section of said casingas the web is wound and unwound and guided by said straight openingduring said movement.

3. An information storing device comprising a tubular casing made offlexible transparent plastic material and having a generally ellipticalcross section, an end cap closing one end of said casing, a second endcap adjacent the other end of said casing and having a substantiallystraight opening therethrough along the major axis of the cross sectionof the casing, and a pair of tubular rods extending through saidopening, the width of said opening being substantially equal to thediameter of said rods, a flexible information-bearing web wound in onedirection of one of said rods and the other direction on the other ofsaid rods to form two contiguous rolls so that the portion of said webbetween said rods is visible through said viewing portion of saidcasing, the casing having the cross sectional dimension of said casingalong said major axis substantially equal to the sum of the diameters ofthe portions of the web wound on said rods when the portions aresubstantially equal so that rotation of one rod in one direction causesthe web to be wound from the other rod onto said one rod and rotation ofthe other rod in the opposite direction causes the Web to be unwoundfrom said one rod onto said other rod, means adjacent said one end ofsaid casing and cooperating with said straight opening for guiding thebodily movement of said rods toward and away from one another as the webis Wound and unwound.

4. An information storing device comprising a tubular casing made oftransparent plastic material and having a generally elliptical crosssection, an end cap closing one end of said casing, a second end capadjacent the other end of said casing and having a substantiallystraight opening therethrough along the major axis of the cross sectionof the casing, and a pair of tubular rods extending through saidopening, the width of said opening being substantially equal to thediameter of said rods, a flexible information-bearing web wound in onedirection on one of said rods and the other direction on the other ofsaid rods to form two contiguous rolls so that the portion of said webbetween said rods is visible through said viewing portion of saidcasing, the maximum cross sectional dimension of said casing along saidmajor axis being substantially equal to the sum of the diameters of theportions of the web wound on said rods when the portions aresubstantially equal, the radius of curvature of the ends of said casingbeing such that the casing accommodates the Web when substantiallyone-half of the web is wound on each of the rods so that rotation of onerod in one direction causes the web to be wound from the other rod ontosaid one rod and rotation of the other rod in the opposite directioncauses the web to be unwound from said one rod onto said other rod, saidrods being movable bodily toward and away from one another as the Web iswound and unwound and guided by said straight opening during saidmovement.

5. An information storing device comprising a tubular casing having agenerally elliptical configuration and a viewing portion through whichthe interior can be viewed, an end cap closing one end of said casing, asecond end cap adjacent the other end of said casing and having anopening therethrough, and a pair of rods extending through said openingin said second cap, means adjacent one end of said casing definingstraight parallel sides which are parallel to the major axis of thecross section of said casing, said rods extending between said sides,the distance between said sides being substantially equal to thediameter of said rods, a flexible information-bearing web wound in onedirection on one of said rods and the other direction on the other ofsaid rods so that the portion of said web between said rods is visiblethrough said viewing portion of said casing, the maximum cross sectionaldimension of said casing being substantially equal to the sum of thediameters of the portions of the web wound on said rods when theportions are substantially equal so that rotation of one rod in onedirection causes the web to be wound from the other rod onto said onerod and rotation of the other rod in the opposite direction causes theweb to be unwound from said one rod onto said other trod, said rodsbeing movable along the major axis of the cross section of said casingas the web is wound and unwound and guided by said straight sides duringsaid movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,194,390 8/16Jenkins 86 2,173,188 9/39 Van Dersal 4086 2,191,662 2/40 Hufiaker24267.4 X 2,788,594 4/57 Levander 4086 2,876,559 3/59 Sloan 4086 X3,003,271 10/61 Purling 4086 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

H. R. MOSELEY, J. B. STRIZAK, LEONARD W.

VARNER, Examiners.

5. AN INFORMATION STORING DEVICE A TUBULAR CASING HAVING A GENERALLYELLIPTICAL CONFIGUTATION AND A VIEWING PORTION THROUGH WHICH THEINTERIOR CAN BE VIEWED, AN END CAP CLOSING ONE END OF SAID CASING, ASECOND END CAP ADJACENT THE OTHRE END OF SAID CASING AND HAVING ANOPENING THERETHROUGH, AND A PAIR OF RODS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENINGIN SAID SECOND CAP, MEANS ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID CASING DFINGINGSTRAIGHT PARALLEL SIDES WHICH ARE PARALLEL TO THE MAJOR AXIS OF THECROSS SECTION OF SAID CASING, SAID RODS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDES,THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID SIDES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THEDIAMETER OF SAID RODS, A FLEXIBLE INFORMATION-BEARING WEB WOUND IN ONEDIRECTION ON ONE OF SAID RODS AND THE OTHER DIRECTION ON THE OTHER OFSAID RODS SO THAT THE PORTION OF SAID WEB BETWEEN SAID RODS IS VISIBLETHROUGH SAID VIEWING PORTION OF SAID CASING, THE MAXIMUM CROSS SECTIONALDIMENSION OF SAID CASING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE SUM OF THEDIAMETERS OF THE PORTIONS OF THE WEB WOUND ON SAID RODS WHEN THEPORTIONS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUEAL SO THAT ROTATION OF ONE ROD IN ONEDIRECTION CAUSES THE WEB TO BE WOUND FROM THE OTHER ROD ONTO SAID ONEROD AND ROTATION OF THE OTHER ROD IN TE OPPOSITE DIRECTION CAUSES THEWEB TO BE UNWOUND FROM SAID ONE ROD ONTO SAAID OTHER ROD, SAID RODSBEING MOVABLE ALONG THE MAJOR AXIS OF THE CROSS SECTION OF SAID CASINGAS THE WEB IS WOUND AND UNWOUND AND GUIDED BY SAID STRAIGHT SIDES DURINGSAID MOVEMENT.